It’s that special time of year again – it’s November 4 and Christmas is right around the corner. The malls and parking lots and freeways are filled to bursting with all the people trying to beat the rush. Magical.

Yes, Christmas is a truly magical time. That chill in the air as the temperature hits minus 20, the snowflakes, the black ice… The foot of wet snow sitting on top of our car on a frigid November morning as we prepare to leave for work…

The screams of children fill the air as mothers drag them by one arm through the crowded stores filled with the season’s gift-givers and bargain hunters. This is the time when we all reflect on the joys of the season: the bottles of whiskey, the extra two days off work, and smiles on our children’s faces as they enjoy their new gifts for 20 or even 30 minutes.

But the meaning behind it all, that’s what makes it so special – not just the toys you get for all the people you don’t wish to offend, but the time – yes, the meaningful time that we spend with loved ones. It’s that time when we can get together with the families and friends that we have been avoiding all year long. It’s the time to eat together and especially to drink together. It’s a magical time, because it seems to melt into eternity, like time has no meaning, just as the cars on the roads outnumber the citizens by a solid two to one margin.

As we enter into this season of purchasing and partying, let us never forget the greatest gift of all – for me, a whole week off work, with pay. I am filled with gratitude at the mere thought of it.